21-Day Japan, Alaska & Pacific Crossing

Tokyo is a dazzling introduction to Japan and its utterly unique culture. With more neon than Las Vegas and more Michelin stars than Paris, it's a real assault on the senses, but an efficient public transport system means it's easy to explore. Asakusa is an atmospheric district where you'll find Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple, Akihibara spills over with shops selling electronic gadgets, and Harajuku is the place to marvel at the latest colourful Japanese fashions. It's also easy to escape the crowds and find a spot of peace and quiet, with tranquil parks, shrines and lotus ponds dotted around the city.

The city of Hitachinaka is situated on the east coast of Japan’s main island, Honshu, in an area known for its long sandy beaches and busy fishing ports. Don’t miss the famous Hitachi Seaside Park, which lights up with pale blue nemophilia flowers during the spring and crimson kochia bushes in autumn.

Cave exploring, kayaking, and coastal hiking is what visitors to Miyako, on Honshu's eastern shore can expect, with its dramatic, rocky shoreline of bays, cliffs and coves along the 300-km Sanriku Coast. Don't miss the stunning white pebbled shores of Jodogahama Beach, punctuated by jagged, rocky islands.

Situated at the southern tip of Hokkaido, Hakodate was one of the first Japanese ports to open up to international trade in the 19th century, and a scattering of European-style buildings remain. Take a ride on the historic streetcar, tuck into delicious seafood or enjoy a revitalising dip in an onsen (hot spring).

The misty fishing port of Kushiro, on the east coast of Hokkaido, is the gateway to the protected marshlands of Kushiro Mitsugen National Park. These extensive wetlands are the only place in Japan where you can still find the endangered Japanese crane, a graceful bird with a distinctive red crown.

Kodiak is known as Alaska’s ‘Emerald Isle’ thanks to the lush green countryside, a landscape crisscrossed by gushing salmon-filled streams that provides a home to around 3,000 Kodiak bears, the world’s largest. Ships dock in Kodiak city, an important fishing port with a fascinating Russian heritage.

Glacier Bay National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, and forms part of the largest protected wilderness area on earth. The park is home to more than 50 named glaciers, along with wildlife including brown and black bears, mountain goats, moose, whales, seals and eagles.

Sitka was founded by Russian fur traders in 1799 as the city of New Archangel, and there is still a discernible Russian influence here, including the distinctive St Michael’s Orthodox Cathedral. The town also enjoys spectacular natural surroundings, facing the Pacific Ocean and dramatic Mount Edgecumbe.

Klawock, on Prince of Wales Island - the USA's third-largest island home to a vast temperate rainforest and abundant wildlife include bears and whales - is known for its deep Tlingit culture embodied in the Klawock Totem Park, home to 21 carved poles representing the heritage of the Heenya Kwaan people. Visit the heritage centre and carving shed to watch local artists at work and learn about Tlingit traditions, alongside opportunities for fishing, kayaking and hiking.

Arriving by ship in the misty port city of Prince Rupert, on the coast of British Columbia, is a memorable experience. This is an important cultural site for the Tsimshian people, one of Canada’s aboriginal First Nations, and it’s also a wildlife hotspot, home to a grizzly bear sanctuary and the highest concentration of humpback whales in North America.

Cosmopolitan Vancouver is a city that rewards exploration, an eminently liveable place and an easy gateway to the natural beauty of British Columbia. The culinary scene here is a particular draw, with seafood galore and some fantastic Asian restaurants.